What Leaders Should Do Before the End of the Year
Article The best leaders know how to ensure their employees are happy and motivated for the new year, says an executive coach.

Downtime is Important for Leaders
Article Managers often don’t leave themselves enough time for self-reflection or self-improvement, says a leadership expert.

Stop Sabotaging Yourself
Article Many leaders fall victim to a behavior psychologists call “self-handicapping” in which they anticipate a potential obstacle in their work and then use that as an excuse for poor performance.

Learn from Your Management Mistakes
Article How managers deal with their own mistakes can reveal a lot about their leadership character and influence how employees view them, says a management expert.

Managing Emotions in the Workplace
Article The stigma attached to emotional responses in the workplace compels some managers to bottle up their feelings altogether. But a leadership expert warns that this response clouds thinking, promotes job unhappiness and negatively impacts work performance.

Boredom Can Fuel Creativity
Article Some of the best solutions to work and life problems come when people take “creative pauses” to think about ideas that "no one else has stopped to think about,” says a management expert.

The Benefits of Keeping a Job Journal
Article Everyone—including managers—should keep a day-to-day log of all of their activities and interactions at work, says one career expert.

The Best Way to Start and Finish Your Day
Article One executive career coach says managers should begin their day with a plan and end it with a recap.

Signs You Are Overworked
Article There are times when it’s obvious you need a break. But most of the time, you find out too late and hit a wall. In cases like these, it can take days and even weeks to recover lost enthusiasm, creativity and motivation on the job.

Introverted vs. Extroverted Managers
Article Is it better to be an introverted or extroverted manager? According to a new study, it depends on the makeup of your staff.

Outlook: Renter or Owner?
CURRENTS Article Scott Nichols, senior vice president for development and alumni relations at Boston University, stresses the need for advancement professionals to be profession bound rather than institution bound. He argues that those in advancement must embrace change, seek education outside of their field, and hire staff members who bring different perspectives and skills to the team.

How to Ask Questions Well
Article Instead of making assumptions, managers should know how to probe the thought processes of their subordinates, colleagues and bosses to make better decisions at work.

Career Path: You, Magnified
CURRENTS Article Annual performance reviews can be daunting, but employees can minimize their fears by knowing what to expect. The best way to prepare for such evaluations, says Smith College's Amy Holich, is to take stock of one’s accomplishments and failures prior to meeting with management and to plan accordingly for the year ahead. This column describes the self-assessment process Holich follows each year as she tracks and evaluates her own professional progress.

Career Path: Assessing the Assessments
CURRENTS Article Will knowing that you are an ENTP, an Idealist, or a Rock Star really affect your job or career search? Jennifer Rodgers, a certified administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, examines the usefulness of personality tests in assessing the match between personality type and advancement position. She argues that the tests' greatest value lies in the awareness they generate--"awareness of what makes you happy and productive … and of when the label fits or is best left behind." Tests examined include the MBTI; the Keirsey Temperament Sorter; Right Job, Wrong Job; the Strong Interest Inventory; and the Ultimate Personality Test.

Manager's Portfolio: Give Yourself a Checkup
CURRENTS Article Regular self-assessment can be productive for both managers and employees. Louden lists five effective ways for individuals at any level to evaluate their own work.

In Advance: Is Your Job on the Line?
CURRENTS Article Seven signs for CDOs that it's time for a change.